Andhra CM Naidu directs officials to alert people about rains, take measures to prevent loss of life

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has held a review meeting with officials from rain-affected districts on Friday, directing them to estimate the situation of rainfall and floods with information from the Meteorological Department to alert people and prevent loss of life.

The chief minister directed officials to prepare in advance and work towards preventing loss of life and property.

“Against an average statewide rainfall of 185 mm by this time, 244 mm rainfall has been recorded. Across the state, 31 per cent excess rainfall has been registered,” Naidu said in an official press release.

There were also places that recorded 130 mm rainfall, and the CM directed officials to continuously monitor the swollen banks of ponds, streams and other water bodies.

Naidu alleged that due to the erstwhile YSRCP government’s indiscriminate mining of sand, the Godavari river's banks have been weakened, and instructed officials to keep an eye on them.

Calling on revenue department and irrigation officials to work in coordination, the CM advised them to take decisions based on the flood manual.

Naidu interacted with officials from Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR), West Godavari, East Godavari, Konaseema and Kakinada districts.

Earlier on Thursday, he held discussions with officials regarding the heavy rainfall across several places in the state and instructed them to minimise loss of life from damage caused by the bad weather.

The chief minister held a teleconference with Eluru district collector and superintendent of police on Thursday night.

“The CM directed officials to avert loss of life and cattle. Flood waters are likely to enter 15 villages in Andhra Pradesh and three in neighbouring Telangana,” an official press release said on Friday.

According to the state government, Peddavagu, a large stream in Eluru district is in spate and it could lead to breaches at two places.

APSDMA Managing Director R Kurmanadh advised people living in low-lying areas to be cautious and avoid crossing swollen canals and streams. He also advised farmers, farm labourers and cattle rearers to avoid staying under trees due to the threat of thunderbolts.

Further, the Met Department noted that squally weather with wind speeds of up to 55 km per hour (kmph) is likely to prevail along and off North Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coasts on Friday and Saturday.

Thereafter, the squally conditions would gradually decrease. Similarly, rough to very rough sea conditions are likely to prevail these two days over Northwest and adjoining West-Central Bay of Bengal, and also along and off North Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coasts, which would gradually improve thereafter.

The Met Department warned fishermen not to venture into the sea on Friday and Saturday.

Inputs from PTI